Iowa's agricultural groups are pushing for vaccine funding to be made a priority in the upcoming federal farm bill. This move is due to concerns surrounding avian influenza, which has led to the culling of over 13 million chickens and turkeys in Iowa in the past year.
Agricultural Groups measures align with the Biden administration's efforts to strengthen the nation's resilience to pandemics and other health emergencies.
Other agricultural group priorities include appropriate reference prices for corn and soybeans, crop insurance stability, more funding for agricultural research, and increased funding to boost agricultural exports. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the largest expenditure in the farm bill, which offers assistance to low-income families to purchase food. The senators confirmed that no money would be withdrawn from this program in favor of agricultural priorities.
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association's Executive Director, Monte Shaw, lobbied senators for increased funding to market ethanol, further use of ethanol as a sustainable aviation fuel, and a dependable federal policy that permits uninterrupted sales of E-15 fuel. Senator Joni Ernst suggested including farm-based energy solutions in the farm bill.
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Categories: Iowa, General